Sigils

The Sigils

Sigils appear in Ultima IX and are magical items strongly connected to the virtues. Each of them is needed to clease a shrine with the Sanctify ritual and finish the game by creating the Barrier of Life. Interestingly, these items were never seen before that point.

Description[edit]

While most of them are the item used as symbol for the virtue they represent, others are totally different. Here first a description where to get said items.

The Writ of Honesty. The Avatar has to get this from the corrupt sorceress Batista by exchanging it with Mariah's magical shield.
The Heart of Compassion. The Avatar gets this Sigil from Aidon after saving his daughter in Paws.
The Dagger of Valor. The Avatar has to regain it from the Daemon Triumvirate in Valoria.
The Quill of Justice. The Avatar gets it from Eustus the Vulture after answering his question satisfactionally.
The Teardrop of Sacrifice. The Avatar receives it after giving Laszlo the blackrock crystal ball.
The Chalice of Honor. Blackthorn destroys the original Chalice and the Avatar has to reconstruct with Lucero's help.
The Ankh of Spirituality. The Avatar obtains it by opening the Sandalwood Box by playing Stones on the nearby hapsichord.
The Shepherd Crook of Humility. The Avatar gets it from Katrina after killing the alpha wolf and burning the vulture nest.

Differences[edit]

Here how the items differ from the established symbols of the eight virtues.

The Writ of Honesty has a hand printed on it, but traditionally the symbol of Honesty is just a hand by itself.
However the traditional symbol for Compassion used to be a Rose, instead of a heart as here (even seen in the into in the stained glass window).
The Dagger of Valor seems to be a case of misunderstanding due to similar looks, since the traditional symbol of Valor actually is a sword.
The Quill of Justice is fully off-track, since tradtionally, the symbol for Justice is a set of balanced scales (also seen in the stained glass window).

Lore[edit]

“	A lesser symbol of the Virtues. Each sigil has a unique shape and is held by the town that defends the Virtue so represented. Alas, in many of the towns of Virtue, the sigil has been abused or even discarded. – from Journal (Ultima IX)